DIY Paper Cup Duck Family Puppets

DIY Paper Cup Duck Family DIY Paper Cup Duck Family

Recycle paper cups to make a super cute family of duck puppets! Your kids will have a blast making the mother duck and ducklings and afterwards they can play with them. Let’s get started!

Note: This project is for children 3+. Take care with the scissors and craft knife!

DIY Paper Cup Duck Family

What You Need

Mother Duck and Duckling

  • 2 paper cups (medium)
  • 2 paper cups (small) or better 8 for 4 little ones!
  • Paper: orange, yellow and white (medium, 120g/m2)
  • Acrylic paint: white and yellow
  • Yarn or baking twine
  • Sticker white (medium) and black(small)

Tools

  • 2 Brushes
  • Black marker
  • Scissors, optional: craft knife for the beak-cut
  • Reamer/punch
  • Hole punch
  • 2 Bottle caps (palettes)

Getting Prepared

DIY Paper Cup Duck Family Puppets

Mother Duck
Paint one cup completely white on the outside. Second only 3/4. I used pure acrylic paint without water. Let them dry.

Duckling
Paint one cup completely yellow on the outside. Second only 1/2. Let them dry.

How To Make The Mother Duck

Step 1

DIY Paper Cup Duck Family Puppets

Cut a piece for the beak 3 1/2x 1 1/2in (8.5x4cm) fold both ways in half and cut a half circle at both ends. For the feet (orange) and wings (white) cut each two pieces 2 1/2 x 1 1/2 in (3.5×6.5cm). Half circle to one side, 3 triangle cuts to the other side. Punch a hole in each of them.

Step 2

DIY Paper Cup Duck Family Puppets

First cup
2 holes over the edge. Punch 2 holes on either side 1/3 from the rim.

Second cup
Cut a piece from the second cup (1/3). Punch 2 holes over the edge

Step 3

DIY Paper Cup Duck Family Puppets

Take an arm’s length from the yarn. Thread the 2 feed to the middle. Now start at the bottom and the first holes with one end. Take the second cup: Inside, outside, over the top. Do the same with the second one. Test it.

Step 4

DIY Paper Cup Duck Family Puppets

Close and open the two cups and make a knot.

Step 5

DIY Paper Cup Duck Family Puppets

Cut a long cross for the beak, longer than high in the middle of the cup. Put the beak in and form it as you wish.

Step 6

DIY Paper Cup Duck Family Puppets

Add the eyes-sticker and draw around with the marker.

Your Mother Duck is ready—now let’s make the ducklings!

How To Make The Ducklings

Note: Same as mother duck with the exception of cutting half the cup and making smaller beak and feet (and of course in yellow.)

Step 1

DIY Paper Cup Duck Family Puppets

Cut a piece for the beak 2 x 1 in (5x3cm) fold both ways in half and cut a half circle at both ends. For the feet (orange) and wings (yellow) cut each two pieces 2 x 1 in (5×3 cm). Half circle to one side, 3 triangle cuts to the other side. Punch a hole in each of them.

Step 3

DIY Paper Cup Duck Family Puppets

First cup
2 holes over the edge. Punch 2 holes on either side 1/3 from the rim.

Second cup
Cut a piece from the second cup (1/2). Punch 2 holes over the edge.

Step 4

DIY Paper Cup Duck Family Puppets

Take an arm’s length from the yarn. Thread the 2 feed to the middle. Now start at the bottom and the first holes with one end. Take the second cup: Inside, outside, over the top. Do the same with the second one. Test it.Close and open the two cups and make a knot.

Step 5

DIY Paper Cup Duck Family Puppets

Add the eyes-sticker. Cut a long cross for the beak, longer than high in the middle of the cup. Put the beak in and form it as you wish.

DIY Paper Cup Duck Family Puppets

Your duckling is ready!

DIY Paper Cup Duck Family Puppets

You can add a sweet surprise inside. The duckling is hiding some chewing gums…

DIY Paper Cup Duck Family Puppets

Now let’s go to the pond with them. Quack…